Heat exchanger



Nov. 24,v 1936.,

y E. BEHRINGER HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Sept. 19, 1935 2 `Sheebs--Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 alla Nov. 24, 1936. E. BEHRINGER HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Sept. 19,

Patented Nov. 24, 193e `UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HEAT 'EXCHANGER Emil Behringer, Richmond Hill, N. Y.

Application 'September 19, 1935, Serial No. 41,216

18 Claims.

The present invention relates to lan improvement in heat exchangers, for use in heating or cooling liquids, such as milk, by gravitationally trickling such liquids upon the exterior of the multiple sections of a single cooler unit, or a plu-K rality, or parallel gang sections of such unit exchangers, the number of, such units in a gang, controlling the capacity and volume of liquid treated over a given period of time. During such liquid trickling over thel exterior oi' the units a hot, or cold, liquid ispassed through such units, counterwise to the gravity iiow of the trickled liquid and thereby alters the temperaturel of the trickled liquid. f

Where the present improvement is used as a milk cooler, to lower the temperature of milk after the pasteurizing step, it is necessary, after a run of milk, to clean and sterilize the outer surfaces of the exchanger units;- whichcontact with the milk.

It is customary' to utilize two. or more exchanger units, in a parallel group, according to capacity requirements.` Where two or more units are required they are usually operated with the units in parallel relation to each other, andas close together as is practicable, to save space, and under these conditions, it is yimperative to provide means to permit of exposing the normally inaccessible faces of the-adjacent units for the purpose of cleaning and sterilizing.

l To the foregoing ends, the present improvement provides a structure, wherein the inlet and outlet ends, of the continuous passage of each exchanger unit, are combined at a single point,

preferably at or near the bottom of each unit, the combined inlet and outletof each unit, being so conformed as to form each a separate port, but combined in a common cylindrical structure, in the form of a tapered valve, thereby to form, with an upper alined, solid pivotal member, a

. pivotal axis upon which the entire cooler unit may be swung, angularly, or radially, away from its next adjacent, parallel unit, or units.

The foregoing, and other features ofadvanta-ge a will appear as the herein description proceeds,

line 2 2, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; A,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the unit of Fig. 2, removed from its pivot support;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary transverse sectional view of a. modied form of cooler unit, the section being similar to that as described for Fig. 4:

' Fig. 7 is a vertical, fragmentary view, partly in section and broken away to better show the details, in a'form modified over Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a rear view of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the base taken on line 9 9, Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows 9 9;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line Ill-I0, Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; andY Figs. 11 and 12are sectioned, fragmented, reduced views, similar to Fig. 9, showing the relative position of a single unit exchangerover a receiving pan, and adouble unit exchanger over a receiving pan, respectively.

Indices indicating like parts are the same throughout the drawings herewith.

The present device comprises, in its main embodiment-s an L-shaped support, generally denoted by I, and includes a cast metal base portion 3, Fig. '1, having near its outer ends, `spaced support struts 4 4, these being provided with upper bored bearings 4' 4', Fig. 9, which support the outer ends or two strut rods 6 6, the inner threaded ends 1 of which, are rmly screwed into threaded bosses 5 5, Fig. '7, only one being shown in the sectional View, Fig. 7. The outer ends 9, of rods 6 6 are threaded to receive thereon lock units 8 8 on opposite faces of the bearings 4 4, thus to lock the outer ends of said rods 6 6 to thev upright struts 4 4. As shown in Figs. 7, 9, 11 and 12, these rods not only act as stifeners for the base 3 and its integral upright valve column I0, Fig. '7, bui'l also act as pan supports for the treated liquid receiving pan P which is located below the cooler units, and rests upon the strut rods l--li,..byV means of f, curled over longitudinal edges 23-23. The pan is open at its top and its bottom B slopes from the rear to the front edge of the pan, said front end being provided with a discharge spout S, whereby the treated liquid falling into said pan P is gravitationally discharged through spout S to any desired type of receiver, or duct, not shown. The pan is readily accessible, for removal, cleaning and replacing, as it merely rests on rods 6-6 in operative assembly.

Where only one cooler unit is used, as in Fig. 11,

i the pan P lies directly under'the unit U, but

where two or more units U are used, as in Fig. 12, the pan P is wider and rests directly under said units U-U. In some installations two or more cooler units are used in a gang, according to capacity output of treated fluid required.

In Fig. '1, the cooler unit of Fig. 1, generally denoted by U, is constructed of dual, pressed sheet metal plates, so stamped or pressed as. to form opposing sides enclosing, continuous duct forming elements 24-25-28--29, as in Figs. 5 and 10, the sheets are so pressed as to form said duct elements 24-25--28-29 andintermediate bafiie flanges 26-26 etc., said baffles being not completely closed, or in contact interiorly, thus leaving a space 3| between each duct interior and between each baille 26 on each cooler forming plate. Spacers 21, in the form of oval indents, Fig. 7, are so pressed into the spaced baies 26, as to contact on a medial line, Fig. 5, and, these contacts 21, may be welded so as to connect the duct forming members together, at intermediate points as shown in Figs. 2 and "1.

The upper and lower edges of the duct forming plates, may be inturned, as at 28', Figs. '1 and l0, and butt welded, or the edges may, as in Fig. 4, be reinforced by a metallic strip 33 placed between the upper and lower edges 28-28, and welded. I

The upper and lower edges 28' may also be in the form 'of a lap weld 34, Fig. 6, with spotting fillers 35, as an equivalent to the weld spots 21 of Fig. '1, riveted as at 36, Fig. 6, or welded, at the intermediate points of attachment of the duct forming side plates, and as described for the weld points 21 of Fig. '1.

The opposite sides of the exchanger units may have opposed, right angled flanges 29'29 developed from the side plates forming the exchanger units U, as in Figs. 3 and 5, and the flanges united by a closure strip 30, which may be welded to both flanges 2 9' on each side of the unit. By this manner of construction, the exchangers U are unified into a light, rigid, liquid tight construction by reason of the unified top edges, side edges and intermediate weld points 21 or 35.

A unit, constructed as above described, is therefore formed into a flat compartment consisting of parallel elongate ducts with intermediate parallel liquid flow constraining baifles 26, and as the cooling liquid enters at the bottom of a unit, as .will later be described in detail, it is caused to iow upwardly from one duct, through the constrained ballie passage, to the next successive duct above, until it reaches the topmost duct and is then returned to the liquid cooling means, not shown, but understood in this art. Thus the flow of liquid, upwardly, is simultaneous, along the entire length of the ducts and the full width of the unit U.

Two forms of inlet and outlet connections are shown herein, one form being mostly of cast iron construction as in Fig. 2, the other form, Fig. '7, being somewhat similar but having its outlet duct 31 made up of welded piping.

In Fig. 2, one side 29-30 of the unit U, has an upper outlet tting and at the lower end an inlet tting, the outlet comprising an opening in said ange 29 and closure plate 30, into which is fitted an outlet distributor pipe 42, which extends into the upper duct for substantially its entire length, said distributor 42 being open at both ends, and is provided along its lower face with a plurality of orifices 43.

One end of the distributor 42 is firmly fitted into an outlet elbow pipe fitting 44, which is held by its ange 45 to a ring flange 4G, by bolts c and d, ange 46 being welded to the closure strip 30.

The duct 41, of outlet elbow 44, turns at right angles to the distributor 42, and receives therein,

-in a liquid tight fit, one end of a down pipe 31,

the opposite end of which is tightly fitted into the upper end 50 of a plugvalve elbow 20.

The valve elbow 20, has its lower end I6 tapered and ground, and is carefully tted, valve like, into a corresponding valvev seat in the upright post Ill of base 3. This valve is so fitted that the attached unit U may be swung thereon, as will be described later.

The plug valve IGhas two ducts therein running parallel to each other, one being inlet duct I1, the other being outlet duct 31. As in Fig. 2, the inlet duct I1, terminates in an integral flange 2|, which is bolted to a pipe flange 22, by bolts a and b, the ring flange 22, being welded to the closure strip 30 of the unit. An inlet distributor pipe 40 flxedly mounted in the inlet I1, and extending into substantiallyl the entire length of the lower duct 54, is supplied with a row of perforations 4| along its top surface, and acts as an inlet liquid flow distributor, and being open on both ends as described for outlet distributor 42, it causes a general dispersion of the inflowing cooling liquid, upwardly, thus to distribute the upward liquid flow along the entire width of the unit U.

The inlet duct I1 extends downwardly and opens into chamber C, which in turn threadedly receives therein an inlet pipe I4 connecting to the source of cooling liquid supply.

The outlet duct 31' passes downwardly and opens up at the side of the plug valve I6 at I8, and this latter port normally registers with a valve port I5 in the side of the valve upright I0, and port I5 communicates with outlet chamber D, which in turn is threadedly connected by an outlet pipe I3 to the cooling liquid source of supply.

On the elbow fitting 44 there is integrally mounted an offset arm 48, on the lower face of which is mounted an integral, solid pivot 49, the axis of which coincides with the axis of the plug valve I6, so that when the complete exchanger unit is suspended by these members in means to be later described, the whole unit U, may be moved on said pivots, such movement automatically cutting off the cooling liquid bv reason of the cut-oil.' action of the valve port I8.

The inlet and outlet structure of Fig. 7, while varying somewhat from that of Fig. 2, is as follows: In the showing of Fig. 7, like numerals indicate like parts throughout, except that, the inlet valve I4, and the outlet valve I3 of Fig. 2, are reversed in the structure of Fig. '1 wherein the inlet valve is I3 and the outlet valve is I4. Minor modifications of structure permit of this reversal of porting with no change in function, or advantages. The plug valve I6 and the solid pivot 49 of Fig. 7 are constructed the same as and function as described for Fig. 2.

In Fig. 7, the distributor pipes 4I)v and 42 are present, each being connected totheir respective inlet and outlet connections and function in the same manner as described for Fig. 2.

Inlet connectionsof Fig, 7 are as follows, pipe I3,connected to cooling liquid supply source,sup

, plies liquid through valve body port I5, through valve port I8 to duct I1, whichis formed by the valve plug I6, and its integral upper body portions I9-20. The flanged tting 2| on I9, is held by bolts a-'b to the Welded on ring flange 22, as described for Fig. 2.

The outlet connection comprises a, preferably, welded pipe having a straight portion 44` welded toa ange 46, which in turn may be welded to closure strip 30.

Connection 44, in turn is welded by an angular joint to outlet pipe 31, this latter portion, at its lower end, entering plug valve I6 axially, and being fitted tightly to the plug valve at 56 and at its lower axial inlet end 51. 1

As thus described, liquid enters pipe I3, through port I5, past cut-off port I8, through duct II to distributor 40, thence upwardly through pipe 42, through outlet pipe 3l to chamber C and thence through pipe I4 to supply source.

As a means for gravitationally supplying milk i in a trickle at the upper edge of each unit U, and

as in Fig. 7, there is located in a longitudinally central position over each unit-a trickle pipe, denoted by T, which is connected to a source of milk supply by connection 58. The trickle pipe is provided along its lowermost surface with a row of perforations 59, through which the flow of milk passes, and is plugged at its ends with threaded clean-out plug assemblies and 6I. The trickle pipe may be mounted in any suitable manner in operative position above the unit U, and as heat ,exchangers of the herein type are invariably enclosed in an openable, dust-proof housing, not shown in the present instance, the trickle pipe may be mounted to the upper part of said housing.

As a means for pivotally and operatively supportingthe units U in parallel and movable relation, there is shown, in Figs. '7 and 8,- a cooperative upright, post-like construction, which is mounted upon the horizontal base 3, and at one end there- In Fig. '7 the exchanger supporting structure is shown as comprising an upright length of channel beam 2, the side webs 52-52, as in the rear view, Fig. 8, at their lower ends spanning the valve block body II),- and being rigidly held thereto by anysuitable means, in the present instance machine screws B3. Riveting may also be used.

The channel beam at its upper end, Fig. 7, is provided with a short length of. angle iron 64, which is rigidly aixed between the channel sides 52, such as by screws or studs -65--65 by one leg thereof, the other leg standing out horizontally from the web of said channel and being provided with a pivot hole in which solid pivot 49 is mounted, in axial relation to the axis `of plug valve I6. As thus mount,edthe unit U is easily swung to either side of its normal operative position, manually, and thus the surfaces of each unit, in a gang, are accessible for cleaning.

Fig. 1 discloses, in full and dotted lines, in plan, the normal operative, and cleaning positions, respectively, of an exchanger, comprised of twounits, which are mounted upon a base and support as described for Figs. 1 and 8, except, that, the channel beam upright and base are of double the width of the upright of Fig. 8.

As thus laterally described, it is obvious that in order to repair,or replace `a unit it is only necessary to lift the unit upwardly from its pivotal suspension, with a corresponding reverse action to reseat a unit.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: v

1. The combination with a heat exchanger member, an upright, valve receiving portion at one end thereof, struts connecting one end of said base member to said valve receiving portion, an

upright support on said valve receiving portion l and a pivot means between the upper end of said upright support and said heat exchanger, said pivot being located on the axis of said valve and valve receiving portion;

2. The combination with a heat exchanger comprising a at cooler unit formed of sheet metal and having longitudinally inter-connected ducts and baffles and having an inlet and outlet, a single valve having inlet and outlet ports connected to said inlet and outlet, of a base member, an upright, valve receiving portion at one end thereof in which is rotatably seated said valve, inlet and outlet pipes in said valve receiving portion communicating with said valve inlet and outlet ports, an upright support on said valve receiving portion and a pivot meansA between the upper end of said upright support andsaid heat exchanger, said pivot being located on the axis oi said valve and valve receiving-portion.

3. A heat exchanger, comprising a cooler unit having an inlet and outlet and having longitudinal ducts connected longitudinally by liquid constraining baies, bafile spacing indents in spaced relation along said bailies on both sides of said exchanger, the indents of one side of said exchanger contacting with the indents on the vother side of said exchanger, said opposed in'- dents being connected .together at said points of contact and around the outer edges thereof, a plug valve having inlet and outlet ports connected to said inlet and outlet respectively, and a pivot connected to said exchanger in alinement with the axis of said plug valve.

4. A heat exchanger comprising a cooler unit havingv a plurality of superposed, longitudinal liquid conducting ducts connected by longitudinal liquid constraining passages, an inlet and an outlet therefor, said inlet and outlet being rated distributor pipe in said inlet passage, a

perforated pipe in said outlet passage, said inlet and outlet passages terminating in a single valve at one end of said unit, a valve body having a seat for rotatively seating said valve on its axis and forming a means in common for controlling the incoming ilow of liquid to said inlet passage and the outgoing flow of said liquid from said outlet passage, and a pivot on said exchanger alined with the axis of said valve.

6. A heat exchanger comprising a cooler unit having a plurality of superposed longitudinal liquid conducting ducts connected by longitudinal liquid constraining passages, an inlet passage and an outlet passage therefor, perforated pipes in said inlet and outlet passages, said inlet and outlet passages terminating in a single valve at one end of said unit, a valve body having a seat for said valve and forming a means in common for controlling the incoming flow of liquid to said inlet passage and the outgoing ow of said liquid to said outlet passage, and a support pivotally mounting said unit and valve body.

'1. The combination with a liquid trickling means of a heat exchanger comprising a cooler unit having a plurality of superposed liquid conducting ducts connected b y liquid constraining passages, an inlet passage and an outlet passage therefor, perforated liquid ow control pipes in said inlet and outlet passages, said passages terminating in a single valve, a valve body having a valve seat for rotatably supporting said valve and having inlet and outlet ducts therein, said ducts communicating with the passages in said valve, a support for pivotally and removably mounting said unit and valve body, struts on said support and a liquid receiving pan removably mounted on said struts.

8. A support for a unit of the class described comprising a base portion and an upright portion, said upright portion including an upright valve seat, a pivotal connection in vertical alinement with the axis of said valve and an inlet and outlet opening into said valve seat and spaced strut rods connected between said base and upright portions forming a liquid receiving pan seat.

9. A heat exchanger unit formed of two sheet metal stampings anged at their outer edgesand joined together at said flanged outer edges 1n a liquid tight jointure, a plurality of .liquid conducting ducts connected by liquid constraming ducts therebetween, means for connecting the liquid constraining ducts together at spaced intervals along said latter ducts, and inlet and outlet means on said unit merged at their terminals into a ported valve, said terminals forming a base opening and a side` opening in the valve.

10. A heat exchanger comprising a cooler unit having opposed plates forming parallel liquid controlling ducts which communicate directly throughout their length by restricted passages, there being parallel opposed indents in the plates between the ducts, said plates being sealed together at their top and bottom edges and also at their opposed end edges, one pair of said end edges having therein, and in communication with the respective bottom and top terminal ducts, inletI and outlet ports, said ports having their outer ends adjoining and disposed one above the other, whereby iiuid entering through one of the ports and the associated terminal duct may flow directly through the interposed ducts to the other terminal duct and associated ort.

p 11. A heat exchanger comprising a. cooler unit having opposed metal plates forming parallel liquid controlling ducts which communicate throughout their length by restricted passages there being narrow opposed indents in the plates between the ducts, said indents having project- Ing inwardly therefrom opposed spacers. said plates being sealed together at their margins adjacent the two outer ducts and the plates being also sealed together at the opposite ends of the ducts, one pair of said ends having connected therewith, and in communication with the respective outer ducts, inlet and outlet tubes, said tubes having their outer terminals adjacent and disposed one above the other, whereby liquid entering through one of said terminals and its associated duct may pass directly through the interposed ducts to the other outer duct and associated terminal.

12. A heat exchanger comprising in combination a base having inlet and outlet chambers disposed one above the other, said base having a hollow seat vertical to one of said chambers and the other chamber being open into one side of the seat; a cooler unit comprising a tier of parallel interconnected liquid conducting ducts disposed above the base, the two outer ducts having inlet and outlet tubes extending therefrom, and a valve seated in said hollow and wherein said tubes have their terminals, said terminals b'eing in communication with the respective chambers.

13. A heat exchanger including in combination a base having therein horizontally disposed upper and lower inlet and outlet pipes, a cooler unit including a vertical tier of horizontally dis posed vertically communicating ducts, tubes eX- tending from the top and bottom ducts at one end of the casing and being connected with the respective pipes, and a pair of uid control pipes extending from -said tubes into the top and bottom ducts, each of said control pipes having a line of perforations therein.

14. In a heat exchanger, the combination of a base having therein upper and lower inlet and outlet pipes; a cooler unit including a vertical tier of horizontally disposed interconnected ducts, said ducts having continuous restricted passages therebetween; tubular means supporting said casing and connecting the top and bottom ducts with the respective pipes, and a pair of perforated fluid control pipes extending from said tubular means into said top and bottom ducts.

15. In combination, a base having therein a pair of conical seats, vertically disposed inlet and outlet chambers for each of said seats, which latter have their wide ends uppermost, heat exchanging means including two vertical tiers ot interconnected horizontally disposed ducts, pairs of tubes extending from the top and bottom ducts of the tier, and conical valves pivotally disposed in said seats and wherein the respective pairs of tubes have their terminals, said terminals being in communication with the chambers.

16. In combination, a base having a pair of adjoining conical seats, inlet and outlet pipes having their passages opening into the wall of each seat, one of the openings being in the side Wall of the seat; heat exchanging means including two adjoining tiers of ducts, a pair of tubes extending from the top and bottom ducts of each tier, and conical valves pivotally disposed in said seats, each pair of the tubes having its terminals in one valve, the bore of onejof the tubes of each pair being normally in communication with the side opening of the seat, so that said tiers may be swung outwardly, whereby to close the passage of one of the respective pipes.

1'7. In a heat exchanger, a cooler having a pair of stamped sheet metal plates providing plural parallel liquid controlling ducts which communicate directly substantially throughout their length, said plates having their outer edge portions metallically joined, there being bailies or limitedly spaced portions in the plates between the ducts, and opposed engaging spacers projecting inwardly from said baies.

18. The combination of a heat exchanger com-V prising a cooler unit including elongated horizontally di posed interconnected ducts, there being restricted passages disposed between -said ducts throughout the length thereof, said ducts having a valved vertical terminal at the lower part of one end thereof, a base having a vertical valve receiving portion wherein said terminal is journalled, an upright support cooperating with said base and having a pivot seatv disposed coaxial with said portion, and pivot means extending from the top part of said e'nd of the connected ducts, whereby the latter may be swung in a horizontal plane above their terminal, said means being pivoted on said seat.

EMIL BEHRINGER. 

